Call Ducks Finally Hatched

[WVduckchick]

e

You will, no doubt!!


It's about time I pass that title you handed me off to another!!

I expect to see her numbers rivaling mine in a year too!!

Oh noooo! I don't have to room for them that you do. Probably a good thing, cause I could easily see myself run over with them.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Oh noooo! I don't have to room for them that you do. Probably a good thing, cause I could easily see myself run over with them.

Aw, c'mon!! Join my madness!!

 

[minihorse927]

Oh noooo! I don't have to room for them that you do. Probably a good thing, cause I could easily see myself run over with them.

23 ducklings.... Say half are girls so 11, you keep a few drakes...

Next year you can't resist hatching, and bang! 100 calls

 

[minihorse927]

@Juliebird...

Tipsy is growing

5 weeks today

 

[WVduckchick]

I have 7 external pips so far!

 

[minihorse927]

J

I have 7 external pips so far!

just hatched

 

[minihorse927]

 

[DanDeb]

We are Call Duck Grandparents! Our Gray Call just hatched 12 eggs and they all seem to be fine at the moment. The duck and ducklings are in a "Duck Tractor" on the bank of our farm pond. It is very secure. The problem is, the Duck Momma is freaking out inside and the Drake Daddy is freaking out outside! In the cross fire are the ducklings that are chasing momma back and forth in the pen and getting trampled in the process! After dark they all settled down and momma collected her babies and is keeping them warm, but should I consider taking them from her and raising them in a brooder? It would be a whole lot easiers if I could leave them with her in the tractor, but I don't want to risk having the babies beat up because the duck wants out so bad.

The tractor is inside an aviary that includes a section of the pond for water access. I don't think it would be wise, maybe I'm wrong, to let the duck and babies out with the Drakes and pond access inside the aviary. I've read that the Drakes can harm the babies and the whole "When to introduce your ducks to water" thing has me completely baffeled!

We are totally new to the Call Duck game, and are pretty amazed at the fact that we are having this much success right off the bat. Now, if we can just not screw it up! Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Ravynscroft]

We are Call Duck Grandparents! Our Gray Call just hatched 12 eggs and they all seem to be fine at the moment. The duck and ducklings are in a "Duck Tractor" on the bank of our farm pond. It is very secure. The problem is, the Duck Momma is freaking out inside and the Drake Daddy is freaking out outside! In the cross fire are the ducklings that are chasing momma back and forth in the pen and getting trampled in the process! After dark they all settled down and momma collected her babies and is keeping them warm, but should I consider taking them from her and raising them in a brooder? It would be a whole lot easiers if I could leave them with her in the tractor, but I don't want to risk having the babies beat up because the duck wants out so bad.

The tractor is inside an aviary that includes a section of the pond for water access. I don't think it would be wise, maybe I'm wrong, to let the duck and babies out with the Drakes and pond access inside the aviary. I've read that the Drakes can harm the babies and the whole "When to introduce your ducks to water" thing has me completely baffeled!

We are totally new to the Call Duck game, and are pretty amazed at the fact that we are having this much success right off the bat. Now, if we can just not screw it up! Any advice would be appreciated!

I have broodys raising clutches quite frequently within a large flock of multiple drakes without issues... and if she has a bonded mate, they will continue to panic until they can be in close contact again... as long as the water has easy access points in and out that the ducklings can navigate, no need to worry about 'when to introduce' them to water... mama duck's oil rubs off on them when they tuck under her, plus she teaches them quickly how to preen and use their own oil glands...

If you have several drakes and are still worried, maybe try putting them up in the tractor for a bit while mama duck and babies interact with daddy drake under your supervision... he might poke at them, they are new, but unless he outright attacks them I wouldn't worry... they are tougher than they appear, really... if mama duck is an alpha of the flock, she will keep the others at a distance from her babies and defend them...

Just my opinion and advice, but I would give them a chance to live together... you just might be surprised...

 

[DanDeb]

That's all good news! Thanks for the quick reply.

I'll try to put up a couple of pics later today.